Shashikala Kakodkar’s Sister Offers Personal Portrait of Goa’s First and Only Woman Chief Minister

~ Tai-Smruti Sugandh by her sister Jyoti Bandekar brings together personal memories and reflections on the life, leadership and legacy of the late Shashikala Kakodkar, 

Goa Khabar: A new book by Shashikala Kakodkar’s younger sister offers a personal portrait of Goa’s first and only woman Chief Minister, taking readers beyond her public life to recall the woman, sister and leader remembered by those closest to her. Tai-Smruti Sugandh, authored by the late CM’s younger sister, Jyoti Bandekar, brings together memories and reflections on the life and legacy of the late/ Shashikala Kakodkar.

Published by Shrividya Pratishthan – Goa , the book, spread over 96 pages, will be unveiled on August 27 at the Panjim Gymkhana in the state capital by Chief Minister of Goa, Dr. Pramod Sawant, in the presence of the author and other dignitaries, namely, Paresh Prabhu, Editor Dainik Navprabha.

Bandekar draws on her personal experiences to present an intimate account of a woman who played a significant role in Goa’s political and social history. The book traces Kakodkar’s journey from her early years and education to her entry into public life and eventual assumption of the Chief Minister’s office following her father’s death in 1973.

“Shashikala tai was much more than Goa’s first woman Chief Minister for me. She was my elder sister, my guide and one of the strongest influences in my life. Her commitment to society, her discipline and her deep belief in education shaped the way I saw public life. Through Tai-Smruti Sugandh, I have tried to bring back not only memories of her public journey but also the person I knew as my sister and inspiration,” said Jyoti Bandekar, ahead of the book release.

Born on January 7, 1935, Shashikala Kakodkar was the eldest child of Goa’s first Chief Minister Dayanand Bandodkar and Sunandabai Bandodkar. She entered electoral politics after being elected from Ponda in 1967 and later served as a minister in her father’s government. Following his death in 1973, she became Chief Minister of Goa, Daman and Diu, serving until 1979. She also led the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party. Kakodkar died on October 28, 2016.

Kakodkar’s tenure as Chief Minister lasted nearly six years, from 1973 to 1979, and was marked by several initiatives and institutions. Education was a significant focus of her public life, with attention to expanding educational opportunities, particularly for economically disadvantaged sections of Goa.

For Bandekar, however, the book is also a record of personal memories of an elder sister whose values and commitment to society left a lasting impression. She has remained closely associated with education, culture and public life. She has been associated with Citizen Co-operative Bank, Vasco, for over three decades and is associated with several cultural and educational initiatives.

Tai-Smruti Sugandh is her second non-fiction book. Her earlier work, Bhau Aathvancha Parijat, was based on memories of Goa’s first Chief Minister and her father, the late Dayanand Bandodkar, while Swachhand is her published collection of poetry. Through her writing, Bandekar continues to document people, memories and experiences that have shaped Goa’s social and cultural landscape.